Flight Test Management is accessed through the CASA Self Service Portal and is used for notification of all flight tests for the issue of aeroplane, helicopter or balloon flight crew licences or ratings.

Fatigue management

Fatigue risk management involves operators and pilots taking steps to manage increasing levels of fatigue so that it does not result in a safety risk.

Independent review of the fatigue rules

The CASA Board has directed that an independent review of the fatigue rules for operators and pilots contained in Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 48.1 Instrument 2013 will be undertaken in 2017 as a result of feedback received from various sections of the aviation industry.

The fatigue rules

In April 2013, CASA introduced new fatigue rules for operators and pilots. The new rules—set out in CAO 48.1 Instrument 2013—better reflect modern flying conditions, scientific understanding of human performance limitations and advances in technology.

The guidance version of the legislation is a useful compilation of all amendments to CAO 48.1 Instrument 2013 and contains the fatigue rules that all operators must transition to by the 31 October 2018 transition deadline.

Transition timeline

The deadline for operators and Part 141 certificate holders to submit draft operations manual changes or apply for a fatigue risk management system (FRMS) by 30 April 2018 no longer applies. CAO 48.1 Instrument 2013 has been amended accordingly and work to amend associated industry exemptions and legislative instruments is currently underway.

The decision to remove the deadline was announced in December 2017 and is based on preliminary findings detailed in the interim report from the team conducting the independent review of Australia’s fatigue rules.

The interim report suggests both CASA and industry will require more time to respond to the final review findings, on track for delivery to CASA in March 2018.

CASA will fully consider all recommendations and seek industry feedback on the final report prior to establishing a final position and announcing a new transition deadline.

Implementing the new fatigue rules

Once you start operating under the new fatigue rules, you must comply with the general requirements set out in CAO 48.1 Instrument 2013, as well as the limits and requirements of the relevant appendix under which you operate.

Fatigue management resources and guidance

CASA has a comprehensive collection of material to help you understand and apply the fatigue rules. This includes information sheets, templates, questions and answers, training and development material, FRMS (fatigue risk management system) development guidance and forms.